Quick disconnect fluid-electrical coupler

ABSTRACT

A quick connect-disconnect coupler utilized to convey a pressurized gas and electrical energy to an installation submerged in a liquid body, the pressurized gas flowing to the installation functioning to effect and maintain the integrity of the electrical connection particularly at such time as the coupler is rendered operational.

0 United States Patent [151 3,649,949 McCarthy et a1. Mar. 14, 1972 [54]QUICK DISCONNECT FLUID- 2,864,628 12/1958 Edleson ..339/16 R ELECTRICALCOUPLER 2,307,393 1/1943 Crowley [72] Inventors: James W. McCarthy,Anaheim; Thomas F. 344l'898 4/1969 Nod-felt Opferman Los Alamitos bothof Calif 3524l6O 8/1970 2,700,141 1/1955 Jones [73] Assignee: NorthropCorporation, Beverly Hills, 3,271,725 9/1966 Bloch ..339/42 Calif [22]Filed June 22 1970 Primary ExaminerMarvin A. Champion AssistantExaminer-Robert A. Hafer [21 1 Appl. No.: 48,298 AtmrneyHarold L. Foxand Willard M. Graham 52| 0.5. CI. ..339/l6 R, 339/60 R [571 ABSTRACT[51] lnt.Cl ..H0lr 3/04 A k qulc connect-disconnect coupler utihzed toconvey a pres [58] Field 0 Search ..339/l5, 16., 40, 42, 59, 60, Surizedgas and electrical energy to an installation Submerged 339/48 174/21 47in a liquid body, the pressurized gas flowing to the installationfunctioning to efiect and maintain the integrity of the electri- [56]References cued cal connection particularly at such time as the coupleris UNITED STATES PATENTS rendered operational.

3,082,394 3/1963 Hahn et a1 ..339/16 R 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures QUICKDISCONNECT FLUID-ELECTRICAL COUPLER The present invention relates toconnectors or couplings and more particularly to quickconnect-disconnect couplings functioning to simultaneously conveypressurized gas and electrical energy to an installation submerged in aliquid body.

In most installations submerged in a liquid body, such as undersealaboratories for example, it is necessary to convey elec trical energyand certain gasses thereto for operational purposes. In the past thishas been accomplished by utilizing separate or independent conduits orlines for each commodity. The maintenance of such lines or conduits hasproven quite troublesome due to frequency of moving equipment servedthereby, replacement and repair of such lines etc. Accordingly it isdesirable to utilize connectors or couplings of a quickconnect-disconnect type. Also, for reasons of economy and efficiency, itis desirable to combine the lines or conduits, supplying gas andelectrical energy, to a single carrier of the quick connect-disconnecttype. To the best of applicants knowledge this feature, employingstructure as disclosed herein, is not known to date.

In the present disclosure, fluid having a pressure exceeding that of thesurrounding liquid and novel structure is utilized to effect andmaintain the integrity of electrical connections, particularly after thefluid connections have been made. The novel structure and the mariner inwhich it functions will become apparent as the disclosure progresses.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a quickconnect-disconnect coupling or connector adapted to simultaneouslyconvey gas and electrical energy to an installation submerged in aliquid body.

Another object is to provide a combined quick connectdisconnectconnector or coupling adapted to simultaneously carry gas and electricalenergy to an installation submerged in a body of liquid, and functioningto effectively establish and maintain the integrity of the electricalconnection.

Another object is to provide a combined quick connectdisconnectconnector or coupling, adapted to function at underwater locations andto simultaneously convey gas and electrical energy, which is free ofmalfunctioning tendencies, is

economical to manufacture, and more economical in operation than othertypes of connectors.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the connectdisconnect couplerdisclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the female or couplingportion of the coupler of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the male or nippleportion of the coupler of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an end view of FIG. 3 as shown by the line 4- 3 in the latterfigure.

Referring to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows the combined quickconnect-disconnect 11, comprising male nipple and female couplingmembers 12 and 14 respectively of the type disclosed herein. Theconnector is similar to a type manufactured by SNAP-TITE, Inc. (Series29) characterized by the fact that the internal values of the connectorare completely closed at such times as the male and female members ofthe connector are separated as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The operation ofthe connector 11, insofar as its fluid carrying capacity is con cerned,is well known to those skilled in the art. However, a brief descriptionof the connector follows rendering the disclosure complete in thisrespect.

Respective outboard ends of the male nipple and female coupling members12 and 14, are secured to conduits 16 and 17, one leading from sourcesof fluid and electrical energy (not shown) and the other to aninstallation (not shown) sub merged below the surface of a body ofliquid. Referring further to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the members 12and 14 are maintained in operational or contacting relationship byconventional ball locking means 18 releasable by an outer sleeve 13. Atsuch times as the portions 12 and 14 are in their operational positionthey cooperate to define a continuous fluid (gas) passageway 19therethrough. It will be noted that in this engaged operative position,a rigid inner body face 15 of a coupling housing 24 is substantiallyabutting and holding open a pluglike valve member 31 in the substantialgeometric center of the connector 11.

At such times as the members 12 and 14 are in their nonoperational orseparated positions, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, various components ofthe male and female members function to close passageway 19 precludingthe escape of fluid (gas) from the passageway 19, and liquid fromentering the same. When the connector 11 is rendered nonoperational thatis, the portions 12 and 14 are separated, a spring 21 functions to urgethe plug valve member 31 to the left in the nipple 12 (FIG. 3) therebyclosing the portion 19' of the passageway 19. Also a spring 22 functionsto urge the extending end of a sleevelike valve member 23 to the rightin the coupling 14 (FIG. 2) functioning to close the portion 19" of thepassageway 19 as best seen in FIG. 2.

Thus it will be seen that gas flow through the passageway 19 iseffectively arrested at such times as the members 12 and 14 are causedto assume their nonoperational positions. In this respect the conduitsl6 and 17 have a degree of flexibility making possible the easyseparation and joining of the male and female members of the connector11.

The connector 11 as described above is modified to provide a combinedquick-connect-disconnect coupling as disclosed herein.

The central portions of the body face 15 and of the pluglike valvemember 31 contain a body of potting compound 26. Electrical connectorsor pins 27 are positioned in the potting compound 26 in fluid tightrelation. Also the potting compound 26 has a fluid tight relation withrespect to the body fact 15 and the valve member 31. The pins 27,located in the male and female portions 12 and 14, have an abuttingrelation as best seen in FIG. 1. Positioned adjacent each of the facingends of the compound 26 is a body of soft rubber 30 functioning in amanner presently explained.

Secured to the pins 27, positioned in both the male and femaleconnections, are electrical leads 32. Spring clips or rings 33, arepreferably provided adjacent the outboard end of male and female membersoperating to maintain the passageway 19 clear; i.e., to keep the leads32 from bunching up when exposed to gas flow.

The proper relationship of the male and female members of the connector11, insuring the continuity of specific electric circuits, is achievedby a locating pin 36 provided in one of the bodies of potting material26 adapted to be received in an indentation 37 formed in the other bodyof potting compound, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

At such times as the male and female members of the connector 11 arecaused to assume their operational positions (FIG. 1), the body of softrubber 30, extends slightly beyond the ends of the pins 27, renderingthe pins 27 practically free of liquid and insuring good contact betweenrespective pins. The integrity of the electrical connections is furthermaintained in that gas escaping from the passageway 19, if any, willfind its way between the bodies of soft rubber 30 thus insuring that theabutting relation of the pins 27 will be rendered perfectly dry, and theefficiency of the electrical connections maintained. In other words, thegas pressure being preferably greater than the sea water, for example,at the depth of the connector, will keep the electrical contacts dry bypreventing leakage or seepage of water between the connector joints intothe center thereof.

Thus it is seen a quick connect-disconnect connector is providedproviding the various objects set forth above.

We claim:

1. In a quick connect-disconnect coupler for simultaneously transferringfluids and electrical energy from sources of supply to an installationsubmerged in a body of liquid, the electrical connections beingautomatically and simultaneously effected as the fluid connection ismade, the combination comprising:

a. a male nipple member and a female coupling member having inboardfacing ends adapted to be coupled together, said members having outboardends adapted to be connected to hollow tubular conduits and havingcentral fluidtcarrying bores therein;

b. valve means in each of said male and female members constructed to beclosed when said members are a. a plurality of said electrical connectorelements in each said member;

b. a plurality of electrical conductor leads connected respectively tosaid electrical connector elements and exseparated and open when saidmembers are joined; 5 tending outwardly through said bores;

c. said valve means including a fixed inner end face element C. aresilient annular element positioned in said bore of at in the center ofone of said members and a movable plug least of said members, Saidannular element spreadvalve element in the center of the other saidmember, said g radially outwardly against Said leads to hold Said leadsfi d element i i d to Contact d open id l against the outer wall of saidbore, whereby said leads are valve element when said members are joined;and 10 Prevented from bllhchhlg together and impeding fluid d. at leastone electrical connector element in the center flow through Said membersand Valve mean-S.

portion of said fixed element at the inboard end thereof pp inaccordance with claim 1 including a Potting and at least one otherelectrical connector element in the compohhd h which Said 99 connectorelements are central portion of said movable valve element; SealedTeSPeChVe poslhohse. said electrical connector elements positioned tomate Apparams accordance with clam 4 where!" said with each other andmake an electrical connection when said members arejoined, 2. Apparatusin accordance with claim 1 wherein said elecpotting compound does notextend entirely to the inboard ends of said electrical connectorelements, and including a filling of soft rubberlike material around thecircumference of each of said electrical connector elements in the spaceleft by said potting compound.

trical connector elements are pins, and wherein said pins are inabutting end-to-end relation when said members are joined.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including

1. In a quick connect-disconnect coupler for simultaneously transferringfluids and electrical energy from sources of supply to an installationsubmerged in a body of liquid, the electrical connections beingautomatically and simultaneously effected as the fluid connection ismade, the combination comprising: a. a male nipple member and a femalecoupling member having inboard facing ends adapted to be coupledtogether, said members having outboard ends adapted to be connected tohollow tubular conduits and having central fluid-carrying bores therein;b. valve means in each of said male and female members constructed to beclosed when said members are separated and open when said members arejoined; c. said valve means including a fixed inner end face element inthe center of one of said members and a movable plug valve element inthe center of the other said member, said fixed element positioned tocontact and open said plug valve element when said members are joined;and d. at least one electrical connector element in the center portionof said fixed element at the inboard end thereof and at least one otherelectrical connector element in the central portion of said movablevalve element; e. said electrical connector elements positioned to matewith each other and make an electrical connection when said members arejoined.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electricalconnector elements are pins, and wherein said pins are in abuttingend-to-end relation when said members are joined.
 3. Apparatus inaccordance with claim 1 including a. a plurality of said electricalconnector elements in each said member; b. a plurality of electricalconductor leads connected respectively to said electrical connectorelements and extending outwardly through said bores; c. a resilientannular element positioned in said bore of at least one of said members,said annular element spreading radially outwardly against said leads tohold said leads against the outer wall of said bore, whereby said leadsare prevented from bunching together and impeding fluid flow throughsaid members and valve means.
 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1including a potting compound in which said electrical connector elementsare sealed in their respective positions.
 5. Apparatus in accordancewith claim 4 wherein said potting compound does not extend entirely tothe inboard ends of said electrical connector elements, and including afilling of soft rubberlike material around the circumference of each ofsaid electrical connector elements in the space left by said pottingcompound.